Work/Life Balance

Masboroughlad · 10th July 2012, 00:12

Just wondered what you all think.... what is important with work?

Been offered two jobs - both great! (Sadly neither on the railway). One is with a big national company, the other with a very successful regional one.

One offers a car - the other offers more holiday and better pension (no car)
Both allow me and my partner to move in together - one sooner rather than later.
One means working away loads and time in hotels, the other will mean most nights at home.
One means lots of national driving on motorways - the other more regional driving around

I picked one then swayed the other way.......

Yew · 10th July 2012, 08:15

I suppose it depends what you want, if you wan to settle in with your partner and spend lots of time together (maybe even start a family). Then the home based one sounds good. However if you want a chance to see many cities and your partner will be understanding then maybe the other one. (would depend on exactly how much time away from home)

With regards to a company car, well it will probably be a diesel vauxhall, if you are a car person you might not be able to live with this. But o the other hand, you have your practical car, so maybe you can get a sports car?

Tomnick · 10th July 2012, 10:10

Having spent just over a year working continuously away from home (Mon - Fri every week), I'd choose the regional one any day! If there's a group of you working away together, it's not so bad, but I really didn't like being away from home all week, every week. I hated the long motorway journeys too - sharing the road with too many numpties!

I've just had to make a similar decision. My current job (lots of time away from home, long hours with lots of often unpaid overtime and pressure to work further overtime at short notice - but with a company car) against the job I was recently offered (close to home, shiftwork but on a rostered basis, similar salary but without the car). There was no question for me - I'd have been happy to be slightly financially worse off, but in practice the much shorter working week will mean that a bit of overtime to make up the difference (mainly Sundays, which are outside the working week) would still mean I'll be working less hours that I have been.

Coxster · 10th July 2012, 11:51

For me, I think I'd pick the time at home over the time away. If that job meant it might take a bit longer for me to be able to move in with my partner then so be it. What good is getting a house together if you're never around to be in it? Just my view if it was me.

StoneRoad · 10th July 2012, 12:16

Unless you really, really like long distance (motorway) driving and staying away from home; then I would think the more local job would be better and would suit you and your partner.

Greenback · 10th July 2012, 13:03

Home and partner every time for me, but as has been said, it very much depends on your own personality and priorities in life.

Masboroughlad · 10th July 2012, 14:08

Home, time with partner, get a dog and not spend all my life on the motorway/in hotels it is!

Ascot · 10th July 2012, 18:16

Stay at home every time your 2nd comparison sounds like a dream job (lot's of holidays and home every night). Working away from home for weeks on end really damages your social and love life. The idea of jet-setting off to luxury hotels racking VIP airline status may seem glamorous but the novelty soon goes.

On the flip side though, if you do 2 years on the road is there a chance of a desk jockey position? It could pay off in the long run!

4SRKT · 10th July 2012, 19:21

Both allow moving in with your partner?? I'd reject them both and try to find one at the other end of the country if I were you!

Butts · 10th July 2012, 21:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenback

Home and partner every time for me, but as has been said, it very much depends on your own personality and priorities in life.

How would Mrs Greenback have answered this question (or any of the other partners come to that)

Greenback · 10th July 2012, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butts

How would Mrs Greenback have answered this question (or any of the other partners come to that)

Mrs Greenback likes me to be at home every night - that way she knows I'm not up to no good!!!

heart-of-wessex · 11th July 2012, 09:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenback

Mrs Greenback likes me to be at home every night - that way she knows I'm not up to no good!!!

Mr Heart-of-Wessex wouldn't mind if I wasn't home and doesn't give a monkeys if I'm 'up to no good', and vice versa! Means I can get on overnight bashes with ease

4SRKT · 11th July 2012, 10:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by heart-of-wessex

Mr Heart-of-Wessex wouldn't mind if I wasn't home and doesn't give a monkeys if I'm 'up to no good', and vice versa! Means I can get on overnight bashes with ease

Sounds idyllic. Mrs 4SRKT is a very anti-crank wife and it's very difficult to wangle bashes (overnight or otherwise) on the sly. I sometimes think that she would rather I was up to no good with another woman than with the railway!

Oswyntail · 11th July 2012, 14:10

Remember that company cars can be a tax headache. And a better pension would swing it for me!

4SRKT · 11th July 2012, 14:18

I opted out of the company car scheme 18 months ago and have never looked back. Less tax at 40%, and because I travel extensively with work I now do most of this by rail because it's cheaper for me to do so using my ticketing knowledge than it is for work to pay me to use my own car. Loadsamiles!

10th July 2012, 00:12	#1
Masboroughlad Member Join Date: 2 Mar 2011 Location: Midlands Posts: 837	Work/Life Balance Just wondered what you all think.... what is important with work? Been offered two jobs - both great! (Sadly neither on the railway). One is with a big national company, the other with a very successful regional one. One offers a car - the other offers more holiday and better pension (no car) Both allow me and my partner to move in together - one sooner rather than later. One means working away loads and time in hotels, the other will mean most nights at home. One means lots of national driving on motorways - the other more regional driving around I picked one then swayed the other way.......

10th July 2012, 08:15	#2
Yew Undergraduate Engineer Established Member Join Date: 12 Mar 2011 Location: Lincoln/Mansfield Posts: 2,581	Work/Life Balance I suppose it depends what you want, if you wan to settle in with your partner and spend lots of time together (maybe even start a family). Then the home based one sounds good. However if you want a chance to see many cities and your partner will be understanding then maybe the other one. (would depend on exactly how much time away from home) With regards to a company car, well it will probably be a diesel vauxhall, if you are a car person you might not be able to live with this. But o the other hand, you have your practical car, so maybe you can get a sports car? __________________ The ancient Romans only gathered once a week, because that was enough forum.

10th July 2012, 12:16	#5
StoneRoad restoration or replica? Member Join Date: 6 Jan 2010 Location: Haltwhistle Posts: 114	Unless you really, really like long distance (motorway) driving and staying away from home; then I would think the more local job would be better and would suit you and your partner. __________________ Saluton. mi estas fervojistino, kaj vi? visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/60884630@N06/sets/ to see what has been done! Perhaps we can do something for you?

10th July 2012, 18:16	#8
Ascot Most lovable TTI Established Member Join Date: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 3,343	Stay at home every time your 2nd comparison sounds like a dream job (lot's of holidays and home every night). Working away from home for weeks on end really damages your social and love life. The idea of jet-setting off to luxury hotels racking VIP airline status may seem glamorous but the novelty soon goes. On the flip side though, if you do 2 years on the road is there a chance of a desk jockey position? It could pay off in the long run! __________________ First Class Lounge Guide

10th July 2012, 10:10	#3
Tomnick Established Member Join Date: 10 Jun 2005 Posts: 2,010	Having spent just over a year working continuously away from home (Mon - Fri every week), I'd choose the regional one any day! If there's a group of you working away together, it's not so bad, but I really didn't like being away from home all week, every week. I hated the long motorway journeys too - sharing the road with too many numpties! I've just had to make a similar decision. My current job (lots of time away from home, long hours with lots of often unpaid overtime and pressure to work further overtime at short notice - but with a company car) against the job I was recently offered (close to home, shiftwork but on a rostered basis, similar salary but without the car). There was no question for me - I'd have been happy to be slightly financially worse off, but in practice the much shorter working week will mean that a bit of overtime to make up the difference (mainly Sundays, which are outside the working week) would still mean I'll be working less hours that I have been.

10th July 2012, 11:51	#4
Coxster Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: 9 Jun 2005 Posts: 9,242	For me, I think I'd pick the time at home over the time away. If that job meant it might take a bit longer for me to be able to move in with my partner then so be it. What good is getting a house together if you're never around to be in it? Just my view if it was me.

10th July 2012, 13:03	#6
Greenback Moderator Join Date: 9 Aug 2009 Location: Llanelli Posts: 9,380	Home and partner every time for me, but as has been said, it very much depends on your own personality and priorities in life.

10th July 2012, 14:08	#7
Masboroughlad Member Join Date: 2 Mar 2011 Location: Midlands Posts: 837	Home, time with partner, get a dog and not spend all my life on the motorway/in hotels it is!

10th July 2012, 19:21	#9
4SRKT Established Member Join Date: 9 Jan 2009 Posts: 4,162	Both allow moving in with your partner?? I'd reject them both and try to find one at the other end of the country if I were you!

11th July 2012, 14:10	#14
Oswyntail Established Member Join Date: 23 May 2009 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 2,669	Remember that company cars can be a tax headache. And a better pension would swing it for me!

11th July 2012, 14:18	#15
4SRKT Established Member Join Date: 9 Jan 2009 Posts: 4,162	I opted out of the company car scheme 18 months ago and have never looked back. Less tax at 40%, and because I travel extensively with work I now do most of this by rail because it's cheaper for me to do so using my ticketing knowledge than it is for work to pay me to use my own car. Loadsamiles!